I've seen a few airheads where the battery rests in a 'dropped box' in the subframe. Just as though the battery is going to be hidden in a cafe cowl, but dropped 2" to make way for a bench seat. Looked good, and quite subtle. Can't find a picture of it at the moment, though.

Another option would be hiding it below the gearbox/swingarm. I prefer this option, personally, and would definitely be doing it if I were making my bike for 2-up riding:

Lithium batteries seem to be a popular choice. They are smaller though no less powerful than the stock battery. Weigh a lot less too, so you can fit them under a seat hump, for example, without messing up your bikes weight distribution.

+1. Longer battery cables and most always moving the weight to a worse spot as far as handling is concerned. It's usually a loose/loose proposition but that is usually what going for a look gets you. Look at choopers.

I like the sound of lithium batteries but they do cost . Some one elsewhere mentioned glass matt slimline batteries ?

I'd like to hide the battery under the seat to clean up the frame. I want it though to not be visible
Some great ideas mentioned here , especially the under gearbox method. here in the UK I would suffer with that due to the amount of rain we get!
Hidden away , nice n dry please

Here's what I did for Schmidt's one. The steel was a bit thin so made another with thicker steel & a tad longer so I could mount a main switch on it. I have a different seat on now which drops down lower hiding it a bit more.
I found those Motobatts are actually quite cheap for their benefits (for an off roadish bike anyway)

Here's what I did for Schmidt's one. The steel was a bit thin so made another with thicker steel & a tad longer so I could mount a main switch on it. I have a different seat on now which drops down lower hiding it a bit more.
I found those Motobatts are actually quite cheap for their benefits (for an off roadish bike anyway)

I like this. Very similar concept to what I did, but this is a buch better build than mine. I like the "wings" that hold it on the frame.....I used some electrical conduit holders, and seemed to work fine....not neary as clean of a look as yours.

I like this. Very similar concept to what I did, but this is a buch better build than mine. I like the "wings" that hold it on the frame.....I used some electrical conduit holders, and seemed to work fine....not neary as clean of a look as yours.

Damn i'm a sparky & didn't even think about that. Thanks for the compliments - I don't often get them about my modifications so I'm taking it

I like the sound of lithium batteries but they do cost . Some one elsewhere mentioned glass matt slimline batteries ?

I'd like to hide the battery under the seat to clean up the frame. I want it though to not be visible
Some great ideas mentioned here , especially the under gearbox method. here in the UK I would suffer with that due to the amount of rain we get!
Hidden away , nice n dry please

Looking forward to seeing the air box method :)

anyone worried about cost of slimline AGM would not be a candidate for a properly sized LiFePO4.

anytime one moves from original battery tray/cables. be extra careful with positive side connections. this goes X10 for LiFePO4 batteries. they discharge violently at full tilt. heat generated are equal to Arc welding.

dead shorts on LiFePO4 installs on custom bikes are suspected of causing the fire that burnt it to a crisp.